"Abdicate?" a young boy repeated that afternoon at Royal Prep.

Him and Tilly were enjoying their lunch hour in the green house surrounded by dancing daisies. The boy was pale and his eyes were almond shaped. He wore a long sky-blue tunic that had a black belt tied at the waist. A silver dragon decorated his back while a small black and blue dome cap sat on his head, his black hair poking out of the bottom.

"Are you serious, Tilly?"

"You think I made this up, Quon?" she sighed. "You know I'm not very responsible. And if I don't abdicate, Rolie will be crushed."

"I'm sure he'll understand," Quon assured her. "After all, it's your right to be queen."

"Queen? Tilly?" a voice laughed. The two turned and spotted a tall boy striding toward them, his black hair pulled back and tied with a burgundy ribbon to match his fine fur-lined jacket. His brown eyes sparkled with laughter as he looked Tilly and Quon over. "She'd be a horrible queen! You'd forget all about your subjects as you run off chasing butterflies and what not."

"I would not!" Tilly exclaimed hotly. "I'd take care of my people."

"Yeah, Garrick, lay off," Quon interjected.

"Ooh look at you, sticking up for the weirdo," Garrick laughed, turning back to Tilly. "You couldn't rule a village, much less a kingdom. You're a waste of a princess."

And with that said, he turned and left, rejoining his friends outside the greenhouse.

"Why don't you put him in his place?" Quon demanded, red faced with anger. "You know you could."

"Because that's wrong, Quon. 'Rule over others as you'd have them rule over you.' It also means treating people how you'd want to be treated. And I'd hate for someone to be revealing my secrets."

"Fine. But I'm about a hair's width away from telling everyone what you told me."

"You do and I'll tell everyone you still sleep with a night lamp lit." But Tilly was smiling. "Maybe.

Quon laughed, shaking his head at his whimsical friend.


"No, Tilly, don't add the-!" Quon yelled as Tilly dumped a glittering powder into their beaker. As soon as it hit the violet liquid, the beaker started shaking and steaming. Quon ducked as it erupted like a volcano, dousing Tilly and her ivy dress. The class stared in shock and wonder.

"Jewel dust yet," Quon finished, standing back up.

"I wanted to see what would happen," Tilly said simply, shrugging.

"But the instructions-" Quon protested.

"Are a clear sign this experiment has been done before," Tilly cut in. "Where's the fun in doing what's already been done?"

"It's safer that way," Miss Merryweather answered, flying up behind the pair.

"Sorry, Miss Merryweather," Tilly replied, suddenly guilty. "I didn't mean to make a mess."

But the fairy just smiled. "Go wash up. I know you didn't mean any harm."

Tilly smiled and dashed out into the hallway, grateful for her understanding teachers.

But on the way to the restroom, she passed a cracked door that was spilling out someone's booming voice.

"Do you realized how humiliating it is to have to come here to have Miss Flora tell me your failing?" a man's voice demanded as Tilly slowed. "Honestly, Garrick, I thought you were better than this."

"Now, King Rogers, it's not Garrick's fault entirely," Miss Flora's voice cut in. "Garrick's been having trouble keeping up because he's dyslexic. And now that we know, we'll be doing all we can to help him."

"Well, if he weren't so lazy-!" King Rogers yelled.

Tilly bumped the door closed before she could hear more and dashed to the washroom, reeling.

Later at lunch, Garrick was near panic.

"I can't find my flying derby jersey!" he exclaimed to his friends as Tilly and Quon walked by on the way to the greenhouse. "I've looked everywhere!"

"No, you haven't," Tilly blurted out, drawing everyone's eyes. "I mean, if you had you would've found it by now."

"It's an expression, you idiot," Garrick sneered. "You think a princess would know that." The group laughed while Tilly turned red. "Lord help us if you ever end up with any royal responsibility."

'And Lord helps us if you actually end up king with your dyslexia and all!'

The words were right there, sharp and angry, sitting on the tip of Tilly's tongue. But then she thought of how King Rogers had yelled at him, not unlike her own father.

"I hope you find your jersey," was all she said before she dragged Quon away, determined to avoid Garrick as long as she could. But she was proud of herself for holding her tongue.

The amulet was proud as well and happily granted her the power of silence, to quiet any and all sound.


"You know you could do it, right?" Quon asked Tilly as they left school. "Rule, I mean. You'd be a great queen no matter what Garrick says."

"Thanks," Tilly sighed. "I should go. Rolie's going to want to get home so he can finish his homework."

"He's not a normal kid, I'm telling you."

Tilly laughed. "Bye Quon."

Tilly smiled as she wandered the outdoors of the palace. It was well after dinner and she found herself down by the wildflowers that grew by the servants' quarters. Since the sun was setting, she creeped back into the castle through a door that led to the kitchens.

"More villagers have responded than we anticipated," King Roland was telling the head chef when she walked in. "You need to make at least double the food for the Villager's Ball this weekend."

"But Your Majesty-"

"Just get it done," King Roland insisted, turning to leave. But then he spotted his daughter. "Matilda, what are you doing down here?"

"I was walking outside," she answered.

"It's late; you shouldn't be outside without a guard at night," Roland said and gestured for her to leave the kitchen. "Get to bed now. You have school tomorrow."

"Yes Father," she muttered and climbed the wooden stairs leading back to the palace.

That night, the moon high overhead, she crept to her window and stuck her hand out of it, calling to the tree that grew just beneath it. The small plant grew upward, stretching to her. Tilly eagerly swung herself into its branches. The wood grew around her, cocooning her.

Maybe Garrick was right. Maybe I can't be queen. How would I even begin to provide for my people?

The leaves of the tree rustled as it felt her stress.

"I'm alright," Tilly murmured, stroking its bark.

The wind blew through the branches, scattering the tree's whisper. Tilly listened closely.

"Really? A magical orchard? You don't say…I could provide for my people."

The leaves rustled in agreement.

"Maybe I can be queen."


King Roldan had caved to his wife's request and taken his children on a diplomatic mission to Tangu.

"Now," the king said when their coach landed. "I'm going to be very busy with the king, discussing our new trade agreement and such. I don't care what you two do as long as you don't get into trouble and don't bother the king and I."

"Can we go to the bazaar?" Roland asked his father eagerly. "Habib told me they sell chocolate covered everything!"

"Take a guard," King Roland instructed as he climbed out of the coach.

"Thank you, Father!" Roland chirped and began dashing to the exit of the palace, his sister on his heels.

"Make sure they stay safe," King Roland told one of his knights.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied and hurried after the children.


The bazaar was huge, taking up several blocks of the nearby town and spilling into the alleys and side streets. Tents were set up in front of tall stone buildings, the merchants' homes. Their tables were filled with exotic goods like pottery, clothing, and food. Other tens had people performing their craft like glass blowing, tattoos, and strange talents; a juggling monkey, a man spinning a sword, another one eating fire, and a woman dancing to drumbeats.

Roland quickly purchased a basket of chocolate covered goodies and munched on them as he and Tilly meandered through the crowds.

"What's that?" he asked as they passed a large blue tent with closed curtains.

In front of it, a man in glittering red robes and a large jeweled hat stood on a box as the crowd gathered in front of him.

"Let's go find out," Tilly said and they merged with the crowd.

"This is a chance of a lifetime, folks!" the man exclaimed, his voice honeyed with an Arabian accent. "Inside this tent is the key to getting all you desire, all you wish for! Just pay a modest sum and have all your dreams magically come true!"

The crowd mumbled and scoffed.

Suddenly the tent's curtains fluttered and a woman was escorted out by a man dressed similarly to the one on the box.

"Is that Qitarah?" someone in the crowd whispered.

"It can't be. Qitarah is sick with a rash," another replied.

"No!" the woman shouted. "It is truly I, Qitarah! I'm cured!"

"How?"

"Impossible!"

"What did you have to give?"

"I paid these men to have my wish come true," the woman explained. "And they took me into their tent. They have a genie who will grant your deepest wish! He's healed me!"

Suddenly people were swarming the two men, handing over all their money to see the genie.

"Oh, Tilly, can we?" Roland asked his sister, tugging on her hand.

"What do you want to wish for?" she laughed. "We have everything."

"I know but I've never seen a genie. Please, Tilly," Rolie begged.

"Let's ask how much it is first."

Since they were small they were able to slip through the crowd to the front.

"Excuse me!" Tilly called.

The man on the box glanced at her. "Yes child?"

"My brother wants to see your genie. How much?" she asked.

"Well genies are very rare…," he mused, stroking his sharp chin.

"But," the other man suddenly interrupted, his dark eyes staring at the tiara on Tilly's head, "he is free to royals."

"Free!" the first repeated angrily.

"Marid, think of how many more people will pay to see a genie with a royal endorsement," the second man hissed in Marid's ear. "Don't tell me you can't see the opportunity, brother."

Marid's eyes suddenly began to sparkle and he turned back to Roland and Tilly with a grin.

"Yes, my brother is right. Genies are very rare but to young royals he is free. Come right on in."

The two men pulled back the tent's curtain and the children walked in. The dark room created by draping silk was lit by tall torches stuck in the dirt, their flickering flames making it very stuffy. In the middle of the room was a table with a simple oil lamp on it with a young genie floating above. He wore a blue vest with golden embroidery and blue harem pants to match. He had tan skin and little muscle. His pointed ears each had a golden hoop earring and a flopping white turban covered his head, his black stringy hair poking out the front of it.

But above all, he looked sad, no, miserable. Around his thin wrists were golden bands, connected to chains tied to the table and his stomach was much thinner than any boys' should be.

"Why's he chained up?" Roland asked.

"So he can grant your wish, of course!" Marid exclaimed. "Go on, genie."

The young magical being sighed and launched into what sounded like a well-rehearsed speech.

"I am an all-powerful genie that can bend reality, time, and the entire cosmos to my will," he drawled flatly. "Wish for anything and you shall have it. For nothing is impossible with my powers."

"Why are you chained up?" Tilly asked him, eyes narrowing.

The brothers suddenly came behind the genie, placing their hands on his shoulders.

"Yes, genie, tell the girl," Marid's brother sneered, squeezing harder than necessary.

"My great power is hard to contain," the genie sighed. "If you were to remove my chains my power would be unstoppable, wreaking havoc on the kingdom."

"Now, make your wish," Marid coaxed.

"Make it a good one," his brother added with a grin.

Roland looked at his sister, confused. He could tell something wasn't right.

"Please give us a moment to decide," Tilly said, backing up and huddling with her brother. "This isn't right, Rolie."

"I know. That boy looks miserable. But what can we do?" he asked.

Tilly thought for a moment. "I have an idea." She quickly whispered in his ear. "Understand?"

"Yep!"

"Are you ready, young royals?" Marid questioned.

"Yes," Tilly replied, turning back to the brothers. "We each know what we want."

"Wait, you only get one wish," Marid's brother cut in.

"But there's two of us. Certainly you don't want us to tell people you're unfair?" Tilly protested, blinking her innocent green eyes up at the men.

"Oh, alright," he grumbled. "Get on with it then."

Tilly gave her brother a reassuring nod and stopped up to the genie.

"I hate spending so many hours doing homework. So I wish for a journal that will answer any question I write in it with a pen to go with it."

"Of course," the genie sighed and snapped his fingers.

A cloud of blue smoke erupted in Tilly's hands. When it cleared, she was holding an ornate book with a blue velvet cover embordered with golden Arabian flowers. On top lay a glue glass pen with a wide tip. She quickly opened the book and began writing.

'Why is the genie really chained up?'

As soon as she lifted her pen, black inky lettered started forming an answer.

'Fizz's lamp was stolen by the two brothers. When he came out of his lam, they used magical chains to keep him in place. Without the chains, he could fly away with his lamp. But the brothers keep him prisoner to make money off his power'

"Well," Marid prompted Roland, "go on, boy."

"Tilly?" Rolie asked as he stepped up to the genie.

"Go ahead. Just as we talked about," she instructed.

Roland grinned and faced the genie. "I wish your chains would disappear so you'd be free from these men!"

"No!" Marid shouted.

"What have you done?" his brother exclaimed, grabbing Roland's arm and shaking him.

But it was too late for the brothers. The golden chains vanished in a puff of blue smoke. Fizz stared in shock at his blank wrists.

"I'm free," he gasped.

"How are we going to make money now?" Marid wailed.

"You selfish, insolent, no good-" his brother growled, shaking Roland so hard his head rocked.

Tilly dashed to the curtains of the tent and flung them open.

"Guards!" she yelled. The royal Enchancian knights pushed their way through the crowd to her. "Help! These men imprisoned an innocent and are hurting Roland!"

The knights dashed in a quickly subdued the brothers, tying their hands behind their backs.

"We'll take them back to the palace. Allow the king of Tangu to deal with them," one knight said.

"You should come back to the palace as well, Your Highnesses," the other told Roland and Tilly.

"Okay. Nearly time for dinner anyway," Roland agreed and followed the first knight and the brothers out of the tent.

"Princess?" the second guard inquired.

"I'll be right out," she replied. The knight nodded and closed the tent's curtains.

"You saved me. You asked that journal if it was really safe to free me, didn't you?" Fizz asked.

"I just wanted to be sure they were really lying," Tilly replied.

"Well I owe you a great debt now, Princess…?"

"Tilly. My friends call me Tilly."

"It's an honor to meet you, Tilly." Fizz bowed. "You're very clever and kind."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me for pointing out the obvious." Suddenly he leaned closer to her. "Hey, is your necklace supposed to do that?"

Tilly glanced down and saw her amulet glowing. It shined for a moment longer before it dimmed.

'I want to ensure no other genie is taken advantage of like I was.'

"What?" Tilly asked.

"I was just wondering why your necklace was glowing," Fizz replied.

"No, you said something about ensuring other genies aren't treated like you were," Tilly insisted.

"I didn't say that."

"Did you think it?" Tilly suddenly gasped, cupping the purple gem n her hands. "Maybe the amulet gave me the power to read minds."

"I didn't think it." Tilly deflated, clearly disappointed. "I wished for it."

"You wished…," Tilly breathed. "I can't hear thoughts. I can hear wishes!"

"That sure is some necklace," Fizz remarked.

"Why don't you? Help the other genies?" Tilly inquired. "I mean, what else are you going to do?"

"I don't know," Fizz admitted. "I suppose I could go to the Isle of Genies and talk with the Head Genie. Establish some rules that will protect us and other people."

"You could even enforce them," Tilly encouraged. "Like a genie knight."

"No, I don't want to be a knight. What about…sergeant?"

"Sergeant Fizz. Has a nice ring to it," Tilly laughed. "Now go! Do it!"

"Thank you, Tilly," Fizz said again as he picked up his lamp. "I'll never forget you."

"And I'll never forget you, Fizz."

The young genie then vanished in a puff of blue smoke.

Tilly, her smile bright, ran out of the tent to join her brother.


"Tilly?" Rolie called as he entered his sister's room. She was lying in her bed, a cloth over her head. "Baileywick told me you were sick."

"Yeah, I'm going to rest today so I'll be okay for the Villager's Ball tomorrow," Tilly replied weakly.

"Okay. Feel better, sis." And Rolie ran out, headed to school.

The minute the door closed, Tilly leapt out of her bed and dashed into her closet. She quickly pulled on her inky blue riding clothes and black boots. She ran a come through her short dirty blond hair haphazardly then headed to a tall cabinet in her room. Sitting on top of some old school books inside was the enchanted velvet journal, its pen next to it. Tilly grabbed them both and began to scribble in her question.

'How do I find the Arabella Orchard?'

'The orchard is always moving. You will need a magical way to track it.'

"Mr. Goodwin!"